Will Depo and Regumate have the same effect on a gelding?

[amt813]

I spoke with my vet today about trying my horse on depo to reduce his studdish behavior. He suggested that I try regumate as it will have the same effect and is less expensive. I believe that they are used for the same purpose in mares - but will giving regumate to my gelding have the same effect as depo?

Just a side note - I know depo doesn’t do anything for some geldings - but for purposes of this questions lets assume that it lessens the studdish behavior and therefore would regumate work equally as well?

TIA

[CBoylen]

Yes and no. It has the same effect, but, as with mares, some horses respond better or differently to one versus the other. And, in my experience, Depo (Medroxyprogesterone) is LESS expensive than Regumate once you figure in the dosage and timing.

[JustThatSimple]

Depends on the gelding- I’ve seen some be great with Depo- I’ve seen some get moodier.

[kelsey97]

Depo is much less expensive if you use a compounding pharmacy to make it, generic medroxyprogesterone. You’ll have to try both to see which has an effect, if any, on your gelding.

[Trilogy48]

I gave my gelding a Depo shot to help reduce studdish behavior as well and it worked like a charm; however, I don’t believe it has the same effect as it does for mares.

[amt813]

Thanks for all the responses - I actually spoke directly with my vet about it - initially I was just speaking with my barn owner who had spoken directly to him initially about it. He told me a little bit more as to why he would recommend the regumate over the depo - and it wasn’t just a cost thing as I had initially thought.

Just in case anyone was interested - he felt that the regumate works better as you give it more regularly. He felt with the depo it is strong in the beginning but then a little less effective each day from the date of the injection. Not saying he’s right - just thought it was interesting.

Thanks again for your responses - I guess the only way to know will be to try!

[wanderlust]

I had a vet who also strongly suggested regumate over depo, with a “it just works better” explanation. Had nothing to do with the daily dosage, though, he was going to give the long-acting injection. Ended up going with depo, and it really took the nasty spook out of my guy, and it hasn’t come back in over 6 months, since the first single shot.

[JustThatSimple]

It really depends on your barn staff and their willingness to work with regumate.

Adults only and we’ve kept it locked away so nobody mistakingly opens it, touches it, etc.

There are quite a few adverse side effects.

Your vet is right regarding the depo wearing off but just move up the date to where you feel your horse needs more. I have had a mare on one depo injection every 3 weeks during the off season and one depo injection every two weeks during show season for the last 5 years.

That being said I have known people to give 2-3 vials every 3-4 four weeks as well.

[Kestrel]

I would only handle regumate (or depo, for that matter) with nitrile gloves and eye protection on. Any skin or mucous membrane contact can seriously screw with your hormones.